how to fail a math course

How to FAIL A Math Course

Jeff Suzuki

Department of MathematicsBrooklyn College

Brooklyn NY 11210

jeff [email protected]

J. Suzuki (CUNY) How to Fail Math 1 / 7

How To Fail Math (the Easy Way)

The easy way to fail a math class:

Not being prepared for the class.

If you haven’t passed algebra, you probablyshouldn’t take calculus.

Not going to class.

Registering for a course and not showing up to class islike buying lunch and leaving it on the counter: you’ve paid for it, but itwon’t feed you.

Not doing the work.

Since your grade depends on the work you’ve done, notdoing the work is a guaranteed way to fail the course.

Not being prepared for the class.

If you haven’t passed algebra, you probablyshouldn’t take calculus.

Not going to class.

Not doing the work.

Not being prepared for the class. If you haven’t passed algebra, you probablyshouldn’t take calculus.

Not going to class.

Not doing the work.

Not going to class.

Not doing the work.

Not going to class. Registering for a course and not showing up to class islike buying lunch and leaving it on the counter: you’ve paid for it, but itwon’t feed you.

Not doing the work.

Not doing the work. Since your grade depends on the work you’ve done, notdoing the work is a guaranteed way to fail the course.

How To Fail Math (the Hard way)

The hard way to fail a math class is to

be prepared for the course, go to everyclass, and do all the work, then fail the class.

How can you do this?

I’ve been teaching math for 3413yearsfeet15.351 years, but I’m still a math student, and stilllearning new things in mathematics.

So I know how to fail math.

The hard way to fail a math class is to be prepared for the course,

go to everyclass, and do all the work, then fail the class.

The hard way to fail a math class is to be prepared for the course, go to everyclass,

and do all the work, then fail the class.

The hard way to fail a math class is to be prepared for the course, go to everyclass, and do all the work,

then fail the class.

The hard way to fail a math class is to be prepared for the course, go to everyclass, and do all the work, then fail the class.

I’ve been teaching math for 3413yearsfeet15.351 years,

but I’m still a math student, and stilllearning new things in mathematics.

How To Fail a Math Course: Memorizing Procedures

Procedures are important time savers, and there are a few things that you shouldmemorize.

But memorizing a procedure without understanding why you’re doingit is a fast way to failure.

For example: Solve x2 − x − 6 = 10.

Many students are taught that quadratic equations can be solved by factoring, sothey factor:

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

This takes them quickly to the answers x = 3, x = −2. Unfortunately, these arethe wrong answers.

If you don’t know why, you shouldn’t use this procedure.

Procedures are important time savers, and there are a few things that you shouldmemorize. But memorizing a procedure without understanding why you’re doingit is a fast way to failure.

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

This takes them quickly to the answers x = 3, x = −2.

Unfortunately, these arethe wrong answers.

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

If you don’t know why,

you shouldn’t use this procedure.

x2 − x − 6 = 10

(x − 3)(x + 2) = 10

How To Fail a Math Course: Following Examples

Many math teachers (myself included!) give examples of how to solve problems,then assign problems based on those examples.

This gives the impression that the problems can be solved by following theexamples.

However, it’s not possible to give examples of every situation that can occur, soyou will ALWAYS encounter problems for which you’ve never seen an exemplar.

Focus on the reasoning behind the example, and not the details of the exampleitself.

How To Fail a Math Course: Working In Your Head

Many math students (myself included!) practice mathematics by thinking aboutwhat they would do to solve a particular problem.

It’s a great workout, but it’s very easy to convince yourself that you know how tosolve a problem, without actually being able to solve it.

This is because actual problems often have unexpected complications that aren’tapparent until you get to them.

Three Bumper Stickers

Perhaps you don’t want to fail this math course. In that case, here are threebumper stickers you might take to heart.

Paper is cheap, understanding is priceless.

Write stuff down. Even if you cando several steps in your head, write them down one step at a time.

Definitions are the whole of mathematics; all else is commentary.

You MUSTknow the definitions, and understand the difference between definitions,theorems, and rules. It’s useful to know things besides the definitions, but ifyou don’t know the definitions, you can’t do mathematics.

It doesn’t matter if you get it right at first, as long as you get it right at last.

Once you get past the simplest arithmetic, there’s a lot of trial-and-error inmathematics, and the most important thing to remember about trial anderror is that it involves a lot of errors and trying again.

A little analysis goes a long ways.

Of course, if it can be reduced to a bumper sticker, it’s either very trivial . . . orvery profound.

I’m hoping for profound.

Paper is cheap, understanding is priceless. Write stuff down. Even if you cando several steps in your head, write them down one step at a time.

Definitions are the whole of mathematics; all else is commentary. You MUSTknow the definitions, and understand the difference between definitions,theorems, and rules.

It’s useful to know things besides the definitions, but ifyou don’t know the definitions, you can’t do mathematics.

Definitions are the whole of mathematics; all else is commentary. You MUSTknow the definitions, and understand the difference between definitions,theorems, and rules. It’s useful to know things besides the definitions, but ifyou don’t know the definitions, you can’t do mathematics.

It doesn’t matter if you get it right at first, as long as you get it right at last.Once you get past the simplest arithmetic, there’s a lot of trial-and-error inmathematics, and the most important thing to remember about trial anderror

is that it involves a lot of errors and trying again.

It doesn’t matter if you get it right at first, as long as you get it right at last.Once you get past the simplest arithmetic, there’s a lot of trial-and-error inmathematics, and the most important thing to remember about trial anderror is that it involves a lot of errors and trying again.

A little analysis goes a long ways. Did I say three? I meant four.

Four Bumper Stickers

A little analysis goes a long ways. Analyze the problem before you start towrite things down.

how to fail a math course

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